For James Truslow Adams – who coined the term in 1931 when he wrote The Epic of America — it’s “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”

For Thomas Wolfe, it’s that “… every [person], regardless of [their] birth … [has] the right to live, to work, to be [themselves], and to become whatever thing [their] vision can combine to make [them].”

For me? It’s both.

Yet for many Americans in the manufacturing sector it’s becoming increasingly more elusive, regardless of its definition.

In it, the ITIF states that while “most pundits and commentators [would have you believe] U.S. manufacturing has turned a corner and is roaring back after the precipitous decline during the 2000s … the data do not support such a rosy scenario.”

To support this conclusion, the ITIF compares two figures: the growth in GDP from 2007 – 2013 and the growth of manufacturing valued added over that same period.

In the table above, taken from the report, all you have to do to understand why the American Dream is elusive for those in manufacturing is look at the fact that GDP grew 5.6% while manufacturing valued added declined by 3.2%.

Though manufacturing unemployment has dropped from 12.6% to 5.3% in the last 5 years, the general health of America’s manufacturing base is weak.

To quote American Made Matters Founder and President, Don Rongione, “An economy without a strong manufacturing base will struggle to retain its wealth and to create jobs and opportunities for a better future. Loss of manufacturing means loss of independence, increased product safety concerns, weaker local communities and more citizens in need.”

So, what can we do? How can we strengthen that base?

By being self-interested.

In 1840, Alexis de Tocqueville released the second volume of the French classic De la démocratie en Amérique, or Democracy in America.

In Chapter VIII of this volume, Tocqueville introduces the principle of “self-interest rightly understood” — commonly referred to as enlightened self-interest — and how the Americans use it to combat the aristocratic individualism that Tocqueville saw in his native France.

To Tocqueville, “Americans were fond of explaining all of the actions of their lives by the principle of self-interest rightly understood; … [showing] with complacency how an enlightened regard for themselves constantly prompts them to assist one another and inclines them willingly to sacrifice a portion of their time and property to the welfare of the state.”

In the 19th century, enlightened self-interest was not just “popular” with Americans, as Tocqueville noted, but vital to the future security of the independence they won a little over 50 years prior.

Today, its seem to have lost the universal acceptance it once had and one of the many consequences has been the weakening of America’s manufacturing base, and with that, the weakening of the American Dream.

Through small acts of self-denial — like opting for an American-made product over one that’s foreign-made and costs less — we can achieve a revival of enlightened self-interest, a principle Tocqueville was not afraid to characterize as both “the best suited of all philosophical theories to the wants of the [people] of our time” and “chief remaining security against themselves.”

Remember: For every $1 spent on American manufacturing, another $1.35 is added to our economy; for every 1 manufacturing job, another 3 are created; and if every American spent just 5% more on American-made goods, we could create 1,000,000 more jobs.

When you choose American, you’re not only making an investment in yourself, but your fellow American, while laying the foundation for a renewal of the American Dream for many that have lost hope throughout the years.

In closing, I’ll leave you with these words from Herman Melville: “A thousand fibers connect us with our [fellow American]; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”

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ADAMSTOWN, P.A. – American Made Matters, an organization dedicated to educating consumers on the importance of buying American-made products, is holding the 2nd annual American Made Matters Day on November 19th. The purpose of the event is for consumers to buy at least one U.S.-made product on this day, and to encourage consumers to buy made-in-USA products throughout the upcoming holiday season to show their support for US manufacturing.

“America’s economy can only thrive and grow when we prioritize buying American,” said Pennsylvania State Representative Mindy Fee. “I’m grateful that American Made Matters encourages consumers to prioritize buying American-made products when making their holiday purchases. Let’s keep American businesses strong, and just remember that American made does matter.”

November 19th has been declared American Made Matters Day not just because of the positive impact that manufacturing has on jobs, but also on local communities, the U.S. economy, product safety, the environment, and the future of America.

To celebrate American Made Matters Day, events will be held in twenty-one locations throughout the United States. These events will show the new American Made Matters video, provide information to consumers, and give consumers the ability to buy U.S.-made products. Some locations will offer food and music. Many members will be offering online sales and specials, as well.

Don Rongione, President and Founder of American Made Matters, says, “Buying American made products creates jobs, stronger communities, independence and security for our country, an improved national economy, safer products, and a more environmentally friendly planet. Each of us can make a difference every time we make a purchase. American Made Matters Day was created as a call to action to use our individual purchasing power on November 19 and during the holiday shopping season to make a difference for our future.”

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that every $1 spent on American-made goods invests an additional $1.32 in the U.S. economy. If Americans dedicated just a small portion of their holiday shopping budget to buying American-made goods, it could have a very positive impact on our economy. In fact, according to ABCNews, if each American family spent just an extra $49.95 on American-made goods, the spending would generate 150,000 American jobs.

Arianna Russell, CEO of Bodacious Cases, says, “Living in America and being a business owner allows me the freedom to manufacturer all of my products here in America because of those like my father, who is a double purple heart Vietnam War Veteran. I feel I owe it to him and to all those who served, protected, and fought for our freedom and lost their lives. Making my products in America is a way to thank them. In other countries, I would never have the freedom to be the inventor, owner, and CEO of a company. As a country, all of us small businesses have to stick together, so we can make a bodacious difference and keep and create more jobs here for the future generations.”

About American Made Matters®: American Made Matters® was launched on July 4, 2009 by the Bollman Hat Company, America’s oldest hat manufacturer. It is the only organization committed to promoting American-made goods that is run solely by manufacturers. It has over 300 member companies located in 45 states of the 50 US states. For more information, visit http://www.americanmadematters.com, or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AmericanMadeMatters.

Bollman Hat Company will be celebrating American Made Matters Day with factory tours!

Bollman Hat Company is offering to 50 people the chance to tour the Bollman Hat Factory! This is a rare occurrence to allow the public to tour the factory!

A few things to keep in mind about the tour:

1. 18-Year-olds and older, please
2. There are a lot of stairs and walking involved, with no wheelchair accessibility
3. Please allow an hour for the tour
4. Participants must wear closed-toed shoes
5. The tour is first-come, first-serve! The tour is filling up fast!

These tours will be starting at 11:40am, 12:00pm, 12:20pm, 12:40pm, and 1pm, and will be in groups of 10. We will have American Made Matters merchandise and other AMM member’s merchandise for sale before and after the tours.

To save a spot for yourself on one of the tours, please email Ruthanne Khoury at rkhoury@bollmanhats.com.

As we return from the third annual American Field in Boston—where 83 great American brands came together to celebrate and share the American made movement—we feel an enthusiasm unmatched in our five-plus year history. This momentum will carry us into American Made Matters Day on November 19th, where AMM Ambassadors will conduct events in at least 22 locations throughout the US. Our spirits are high as our reach expands!

Since our last newsletter, we launched our second video, broke 30,000 fans, friends, and followers on social media, exceeded 300 member companies, hit 45 of 50 states represented by our members, began member features on Facebook, spoke to the White House about a program to boost US manufacturing, enlisted 22 AMM Ambassadors for AMM Day, and played a role in creating a renewed interest among consumers to buy American!

Employment losses in US manufacturing are tapering off and exports are on the rise. According to WWD, the US increased exports of apparel by 4.5% last year versus the previous year, and by 5.9% in motor vehicles and parts–so our efforts are helping reduce our trade deficit as well as job loss.

American made matters to more consumers every day. Please consider joining our ambassadors on November 19th, AMM Day, by attending an event in one of the following locations or hosting an even in your community.

As America’s premier cut and sew hat manufacturer, we do everything in our power to provide high-quality wearable works of art that will last a lifetime. Many things have changed over the last 40 years, but not our commitment to our customer’s satisfaction. With the help of our talented and personable team, we strive to ensure that Head’n Home will continue to provide a quality American made product while providing customer service second to none. We are proud of the styling and quality built into every hat that comes from our workshop, and our pledge is that our customers will also see and feel the pride in each and every purchase.

Why Does American Made Matter to You?

American Made matters to us because we create jobs, not only for our family, but for people living in our community. We take pride in doing things the right way the first time, and outsourcing to other countries just doesn’t seem to us to be the right way to do things. We’re doing our best to keep jobs here, in the United States, and create amazing hats along the way.

What Values Drive your Business Decisions?

Excellence though humility (and service)- As a company we strive to deliver a ‘wow’ experience to everyone we do business with. A wow experience to us means going above and beyond the average business practices with creative and personal resolutions to any possible situation. Whether it be our customers or vendors we pride ourselves in our ability to take the time and energy needed to provide everyone the best possible experience. We connect with our customers on a personal level learning how best to meet their needs and leave them feeling like they were well taken care of; all without the use of script’s or programmed responses.

Efficiency – Organization is a key to our success here at Head’n Home Hats, we are always striving to improve our policies and procedures to meet the need of our partners. To best support our customers and each other we make every effort to be consistent and dependable.

Family/Health – Being a family owned and operated business we make it a point to treat everyone we interact with as we would treat our closest loved ones- with respect and commitment. We are dedicated to making connections with fellow employees, vendors and customers that lay the groundwork for our long-term relationships. Our longevity as a company is also linked to our emphasis on health; we believe that a healthy person will always put their best foot forward in any situation.

Open communication – Because we care about everyone we do business with we find that honesty is always the best policy to ensure genuine communication. Our positive attitudes and commitment to our partners creates an atmosphere of reliability and ever increasing satisfaction. We go the extra mile to listen to and understand the requests of all our partners and meet every one of their needs.

Innovation/Creativity – Working together within our team we push ourselves to come up with new and original products as well as better business practices. As our Vice President Garth Watrous states “We are always willing to learn and willing to share. It’s important to us to always be questioning- how can we do it better? How can we improve ourselves and achieve more?” We believe that you cannot be a leader in any industry without the ability to learn from your mistakes and change your outlook when new information is presented to you. Being a leader in the hat manufacturing industry Head’n Home has learned many lessons along the way that have made us exponentially better. Along with insights and information from other people Head’n Home is also dedicated to education for our employees, from part time classes to weekend seminars. We support our employees furthering their personal educations as we have found in the long run everyone benefits.

Integrity – “Say what you mean and mean what you say”-Gary Watrous, Founder and President of Head’n Home Hats. Our intention is always to do the right thing. We feel it is of paramount importance to always follow-through with our promises and to take excellent care of everyone we interact with. It is our expectation that our partners will use the Internet, email and handle phone calls in an appropriate, ethical and professional manner.

Happy/Weird – Being ourselves, feeling comfortable and playful has always helped us be our most productive selves. We are all a bit odd here but we feel it’s what helps us put our best foot forward. Admittedly sometimes things get a bit weird however with acceptance in mind we always end up with an end product that is beyond our expectations and looking back everyone has an awesome experience.

What Advice Would you Give to a Start-up Business that Plans to Manufacture in the USA?

You will have people competing with you overseas, and be ready to persevere to defend your product pricing. Production costs are much higher in the USA but well worth the investment. Also, know your numbers. It’s a tough business and you really must know your numbers.

What are the Benefits of Manufacturing in the USA for your Company?

We take pride in the workmanship of our hats. Without being able to oversee the production process we would not be able to produce a top quality product and provide the guarantee we do. We are able to give back to our community by employing local talent.

Do you have any Future Expansion Plans?

We hope our continued growth will bring the ability to manufacture locally in a larger facility in the year to come.

Is your Company Currently Offering any Promotions/Discounts?

We’re now offering free shipping to the contiguous United States with any purchase!

Why did you join American Made Matters?

It was important for us to become a part of American Made Matters to associate with other businesses who manufacture in the USA. Networking with others experiencing the same demands helps us streamline our business practices. Sharing the same sense of pride in the workmanship and manufacturing process validates why we continue to operate in the United States.

K’NEX® is the next generation of construction sets. It inspires creativity, builds self-confidence and encourages interaction among children and parents. The possibilities are endless!

Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the most integrated construction systems for children, and is America’s STEM building solution. Winner of over 250 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX, America’s Building Toy® company, is focused on Building Worlds Kids Love® and encourages youngsters to “imagine, build and play.” From the living room to the classroom, K’NEX has building toys specially designed for every age group and skill level. The K’NEX family of brands includes K’NEX Building Sets, K’NEX Thrill Rides, K’NEX Education™, Lincoln Logs®, Tinkertoy®, NASCAR®, Angry Birds™, Mario Kart Wii™, Mario Kart 7™, Super Mario™, PacMan™, Titanfall™, Family Guy™, Plants vs. Zombies™, and more. Since 1992, The Rodon Group®, a subsidiary of K’NEX Brands, L.P., has manufactured over 31 billion parts for the K’NEX building toy system. Join us as we help build the leaders of tomorrow. For more information, please visit www.knex.com or www.rodongroup.com.

Why Does American Made Matter to You?

At K’NEX, we’ve learned that the more items we are able to manufacture at home, the more people we can employ. If every American were to spend just $64 a year on things Made in the USA, 200,000 new jobs would be created. Spending our dollars on Made in the USA goods enables our whole economy to get stronger and with that our whole country becomes stronger. You just have to take that extra second and look at the label. Together, we can build a better America.

What Values Drive your Business Decisions?

Founded in 1992 K’NEX has always been committed to manufacturing in the United States—over 90% of its parts are manufactured by The Rodon Group. In business since 1956, the Rodon Group makes billions of parts each year in its 125,000 square foot eco-friendly facility and is one of the largest family-owned and operated injection molders in the United States. We’ve learned that manufacturing in America can actually be more cost effective than manufacturing overseas. Our nation was founded on an entrepreneurial spirit, we have the ability to shape our own growth by inventing and making everything we use. Continuing to shed our manufacturing base is akin to trying to run a race without running shoes – you can do it, but you are at a tremendous disadvantage.

What Advice Would you Give to a Start-up Business that Plans to Manufacture in the USA?

K’NEX President and CEO, Michael Araten, offers this advice, “First, ask a lot of questions about what is working, what’s not and get everyone’s opinion on why that is. A key part of any CEO’s job is to assess the people they’ve got and then assess the information you are getting. You then need to weigh your options based on what you think has the most credibility and gain a sense of where you are.

Next, look at the marketplace and decide what you can do to gain more of a market share. I believe that you either grow or you die. Identify your competencies. At K’NEX, we define a core competency as something that we don’t want anyone else to have or would take a lot of time and money for someone else to copy. Once your competencies are identified, evaluate the avenues that are open for growth, then the X factor is who you bring into the room for that process.

Some people say that when you get more than six people in a room, things start to breakdown, but I believe more heads are better than one. You need all disciplines represented because if you don’t, someone’s not doing checks and balances of keeping you honest in what you’re trying to accomplish.

At K’NEX & Rodon we involved people from every major discipline in our discussions and we encouraged them to share our findings with their groups on a departmental level.

They came back and said, “We shared this at our team meetings last week, and we got some other things where they thought, yep, we agree with a lot of this, but here are some things we think you can focus on more or we think you missed.” Ultimately we involved about 80% of the company in some way.”

What are the Benefits of Manufacturing in the USA for your Company?

“The keys to the success of American manufacturing are abundant energy, consumers who can easily recognize that products they love are made in the USA, and STEM education. STEM is the heart of innovation and innovation drives growth, profit and jobs of the future. K’NEX and Rodon work actively with local community colleges and technical schools to ensure that students graduate with the skills they need to work at companies like ours. And through the K’NEX Education line, we are providing teachers with a complete STEM solution, enabling them to teach critical concepts in sequence and demonstrate real world applications.”

Why did you join American Made Matters?

Michael Araten says, “Since the Great Recession, I have been driven to do all I can to make American manufacturing as strong as possible. It is why we are founding members of American made matters; why I speak regularly on the topic through the Philadelphia and Bucks county chambers of commerce; why I accepted the nomination to the council of economic advisors for the Philly federal reserve bank; and why we work relentlessly to make products here in the USA.”

(Michael Araten, President & CEO of K’NEX)

For more information on K’NEX, visit their website or watch their video here.

The mission of Bollman Hat Company is to increase shareholder value and to provide growth opportunities to its employee-owners by profitably building headwear and accessory brands that capture customer loyalty and selling the highest quality products in targeted markets throughout the world.

Why Does American Made Matter to You?

Making product in America creates more jobs, communities, safety, independence, security, environment, and a better economy for our country. As America’s oldest hat maker, Bollman has nearly 150 years of heritage in American manufacturing. Bollman has provided jobs for tens of thousands of families and opportunities for a better life.

What Values Drive your Business Decisions?

The core value of Bollman Hat Company is to exercise effective stewardship over the heritage and assets that have been handed down from past generations. To do this our people will pioneer change by listening, thinking and acting with integrity for the long term. We will achieve excellence by taking ownership, supporting our teammates, giving more than we take and treating others fairly. Our corporate values guide all our behavior, business decisions, relationships and strategic direction.

What Advice Would you Give to a Start-up Business that Plans to Manufacture in the USA?

Find people who are passionate about what they make and willing to make personal sacrifices to get launched. Stay focused on quality, innovation and remaining true to your values. Tell your story about why American Made Matters!

What are the Benefits of Manufacturing in the USA for your Company?

Unsurpassed quality, control of innovation and speed to market are three benefits of U.S. manufacturing. Other benefits include smaller minimum order quantities, greater control of proprietary processes, and greater assurance of timely delivery.

Do you have any Future Expansion Plans?

We are expanding into new global markets and once again building our U.S. manufacturing following years of painful decline.

Is your Company Currently Offering any Promotions/Discounts?

Use coupon code AMM15 to get 15% off any USA made hat on hats.com. Valid through 8/31/14

Why did you join American Made Matters?

Our President and CEO, Don Rongione, experienced the tragic decline of American manufacturing first hand when loss of major customers to foreign competition forced us to lay off more than 100 U.S. manufacturing employees. It was this experience that led him to found American Made Matters (AMM), an organization dedicated to educating consumers on just how important American manufacturing is to our country. Today, AMM has close to 300 members in 43 states. Bollman is the home of American Made Matters.